Settle down now A J PHILIPS settle down, BAZZ is merely expressing an opinion, of which he's entitled too, just as you are.

Bazz,

No actually, you didn’t.

<<Ooaahhh, seems I touched a sore point with AJ Philips,>>

There was nothing about my tone or approach that should have suggested that a sore point was touched. Any harshness in my response was proportion to the absurdity and offensiveness of the sentiments expressed in yours. Furthermore, being straight, I have no real personal investment in this debate, so I have the advantage of not getting too emotionally involved in these discussions. Which really shows in my responses. Particularly when compared to the two you’ve posted on this thread.

<<I think UNCLEAN UNCLEAN does indeed call a spade a bloody shovel !>>

I wasn’t even sure what you meant by “UNCLEAN UNCLEAN”, so I didn’t factor it into my response. Apparently it was something really offensive if you think it contributed to a response that you believed you could paint as being indicative of touching a sore point in order to divert from the stupidity of your own comment.

o sung wu,

Nothing I said should suggest that I need to settle down or be reminded of the right of others to express an opinion. The harshness of my response was proportionate to the ignorance displayed in Bazz’s. I suspect you are just building on his last comment.

I post most of what I post with a cheery disposition - a condescending smirk on my face at worst. I’m just disappointed that that never seems to show through in the (sometimes even horrified) responses that I get. At the risk of sounding cocky, I can only put it down to the fact that those who disagree with, or are offended by, what I say are engaging in a bit of transference by interpreting the discomfort that it brings them, and their inability to counter it with reasoned argument, as a being a problem with me.

It would be easier than admitting that one was wrong, after all.

//Relationships are different to biological facts. You cannot accept one can have lifelong relationships and not call it marriage.//

I've had a familial relationship with all of my siblings and both my parents my entire life. I've had a friendly relationship with my best mate for more than half my life. None of these relationships are marriage. Now, what were you saying about facts?

The question is not whether people can have lifelong relationships and not call them the marriage: the question is whether certain people should have the right to call certain types of relationships 'marriages'. I think homosexual couples should have the same marriage rights as heterosexual couples. You have yet to produce a convincing argument as to why they should not.

Mostly you just point out that it takes the fusion of a sperm and an egg for natural sexual reproduction to occur in mammalian species. I agree with you, Josephus: that point is not in contention. I just don't see what it has to with people's right to marry.

Toni Lavis,
1. Please state what you believe marriage to be?
2. Please state why the State should record this that a civil contract does not already give?

Toni,
But same sex marriage and opposite sex marriage are not the same thing so why should they be treated equally, what's wrong with creating a second act defining and recognising same sex marriage?
Liberals and progressives constantly blather on about the benefits of greater diversity in society yet their activism tends toward assimilation, standardisation and homogenisation. When you bake a cake you mix flour, eggs, butter and sugar but once the process is finished none of the ingredients are individually identifiable, they've changed and combined to become something else. To a the majority of Australians who don't share the progressive religious outlook the whole marriage equality push looks like and attempt to change marriage into something different to what it is now by combining it with other, very different lifestyles to change it's meaning and significance. Because there is no valid reason for this push for "equality" to a person outside the progressive religion it all looks like the typical heavy handed, unreasonable/unreasoning actions of a sect of fanatics who have only their own group interests at heart.

Jay, that is so well said.

These minority groups are relentless in their quests and work on the old 'squeaky wheel ' theory.

Just find another word and the problem will be solved forever, it truly is that simple.